Typhoon Bolaven is pounding the nation with strong winds as it moves north along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said winds reached a maximum speed of 51-point-nine meters per second at 6:16 a.m. Monday on Wan Island, South Jeolla Province.

Winds blowing at 30 meters per second could destroy fragile houses, and winds blowing at 35 meters per second could knock over trains. And the weather agency said that winds of 40 meters per second could even sweep away large rocks.

Since 1937, the nation has seen only four typhoons accompanied by winds as strong as Bolvaven's. The strongest storm that hit the nation in terms of winds was Typhoon Maemi in 2003, which brought winds at a maximum speed of 60 meters per second through Jeju Island.